Teacher: Presidents' Day more than day off

Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series in honor of Presidents' Day that began in Sunday's Daily Press. Click here to read the first part.

VICTORVILLE • Eighth- grade teacher Kevin Skelton has worked to make Monday's holiday mean more than just a day off school for his American history students.

"The founding fathers went through a lot of trials and challenges in putting together our government, so it is real important that (students) understand what they went through," said Skelton, an American history and language arts teacher at Imogene Garner Hook Junior High School in Victorville. "It's important to understand the origins of our country and our government so students understand how it works."

While early teens might not initially recognize the relevance of studying historical figures who lived 200 years ago, Skelton said it's important to teach students how the creators of the Constitution, first 10 presidents and Abraham Lincoln shaped the nation's foundation.

Skelton's class spent the Friday before President's Day Weekend on an introductory lesson on Abraham Lincoln, and earlier in the week the class learned about George Washington.

For many, it's the first time they've learned about the early presidents' accomplishments. Generally, students don't spend a great deal of time studying American presidents before middle school, Skelton said.

Eighth grader Adeline Rivera, said she thinks it's important to study history, but Rivera doesn't think the current or past presidents affect her personally.

"In some ways it's kind of good to know what (the president) is actually going to do, but sometimes it's just not really important," said Rivera, who added she hasn't studied much about United States presidents in school before this year.

Skelton's class will study Lincoln more thoroughly when they begin the Civil War unit, and in May the class will perform a Civil War battle reenactment, he said.

In the meantime, Skelton said he will prioritize teaching what the founding fathers stood for and accomplished over getting his students to memorize facts and trivia.

To read more from Skelton and students in his class, see Monday's edition of the Daily Press. To subscribe, call 241-7755 or click here.

Natasha Lindstrom may be reached at 951-6232 or at nlindstrom@VVDailyPress.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.